I agree! My son is 14 (almost 15) and is a pitcher throwing around 80mph and I really worry about a “hit back” with a metal bat. He is doing High School tryouts right now and there is a local baseball bboard talking about going to wood in High School.
I think what needs to happen FIRST is for College baseball to go to wood then it will trickle down to H.S.
With that being said, I do not like wood bats from about 14 years old on down. Most wood bats are way too heavy for these kids that have not developed upper body strength yet and they end up with a really crappy swing because of the extra weight. It is much easier to TEACH with the lighter metal when they are 10-14 years old. Smaller wood bats only frustrate kids that need a little bigger bat size.
Youth baseball is losing kids at a rapid pace and I think metal bats keep the game a little “livelier” and exciting and that is what will keep kids in baseball longer. I’ve been hit by a ball hit with wood and metal and it hurt both times!!!
Bottom line, if College goes to wood, then I am all for High Schools to go to wood BUT NOT YOUTH BASEBALL!
yeah...my own son took out my thumb with a hit at a summer game. Still doesn’t feel quite right.
I do remember some tourneys at the LL level with wooden bats - and the kids kept breaking them.
Sorry, but that's where they are most dangerous. I coached 14 & under LL when my son was younger & was only coach in 8 team league that would not let my kids use aluminum. We lost one game all year one season, so aluminum doesn't guarantee success.
But in a 8-14 YO league, there are GREAT disparaties in size, strength, quickness, experience, and attention. Not just pitchers are at risk, it doesn't take much longer to get to a shortened infielder.
I was injured in HS by a batted ball, last thing I wanted was to see it happen to a kid if it could be avoided by not using aluminum.